The fight against galamsey has taken a new turn as Martin Kpebu and Kenneth Ashigbey have re-petitioned the Director General of the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) to investigate and prosecute Akonta Mining Ltd for alleged illegal mining activities.
The petition, dated February 24, 2025, expresses frustration over the delay in the investigation and prosecution of the company’s directors, who were accused by the then Minister of Lands and confirmed by the Minerals Commission (MinCom) and Forestry Commission reports.
The petitioners are seeking answers as to why the directors of Akonta Mining Ltd, including Chairman Wontumi who were accused of undertaking illegal mining in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve, have not been prosecuted.
They argue that it is essential to hold the kingpins who fund and are the root cause of galamsey accountable, rather than just prosecuting the victims found in the pits.
This is not the first time the petitioners have brought this issue to the attention of the CID.
They initially petitioned the CID on October 13, 2022, but claim they have not received any significant updates on the progress of the investigation, except for a meeting in 2023.
The petitioners are also calling on the President to ensure that allegations against the Aowin MP and the NDC Constituency Chairman of Evalue-Gwira-Ajomoro are independently investigated and the results made public.
They believe that the only way to win the fight against galamsey is for the President to deal with the political and connected kingpins who are involved in the illegal activity.
The issue of galamsey has been a longstanding problem in Ghana, with many calling for tougher measures to be taken against those involved.
In 2023, then Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor, stated that Akonta Mining Company Limited was not absolved from illegal activities, despite the then President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s comment that the company was not engaged in illegal mining in any forest reserve at the time.
The re-petitioning of the CID by Martin Kpebu and Kenneth Ashigbey highlights the need for urgent action to be taken against those involved in galamsey.
-BY Daniel Bampoe
